CCM dismisses 2.6bn/- bribe charges as trash

CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi’s (CCM) Members of Parliament (MPs) Secretary Jasson Rweikiza yesterday dismissed as trash claims that the party MPs were bribed 10m/- each to pass the Media Services Bill, 2016.

Mr Rweikiza, addressing reporters here, questioned the rationale of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)National Chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe, to ask the Prime Minister on the 10m/- corruption accusations against CCM Parliamentarians.

He argued that if anything, Mr Mbowe should have directed his question to the ruling party’s Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana. “CCM has the power to plan and use its resources, though it is not true that we have been given that money.

But he (Mbowe) has no authority to question our spending on a number of areas, as we have not been poking noses into their affairs,” he said. The Secretary claimed that Chadema Parliamentarians have special amount of monthly contribution to their party but no one from CCM has ever questioned their spending.

Last week, Mr Mbowe linked CCM Members of Parliament to a 2.6bn/- graft scandal, urging President John Magufuli to form an independent judiciary commission of inquiry to probe the matter.

Mr Mbowe blew the trumpet, charging that every MP on the ruling party had been bribed 10m/- to facilitate endorsement of the Media Services Bill, 2016.

He made the accusation during a direct questions to the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa last Thursday, saying the premier held a meeting with CCM Secretary General Abdulrahman Kinana and all MPs to discuss the development plan proposal and the Media Services Bill.

According to Mr Mbowe, who is also Hai legislator, the meeting had agreed that all MPs be given 10m/- each to entice them to pass the Media Bill and Government plan.

He claimed that the move was contrary to the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act of 1995 and Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Act of 2007.